From Pietro di Conti, the Webminister:
I’ve created initial placeholders for a Red Tower 2017 event page and a Castle Wars 2017 event page. If you’re involved in planning those events and have something you’d like me to add to the event page, please let me know!
Also, Lord Piers Simmons is taking volunteers to help with Castle Wars 2017 on this spreadsheet.
See you at the events!
From Pietro di Conti, deputy webminister:
I’ve been working on updating/merging the online Order of Precedence and Artisans Database for South Downs; please check out the new “People of South Downs” page under the “About Us” menu (or you can go directly there from this link).
If you’re a South Downs person, please take a look and let me know if I’m missing your name, and/or if the info I have for you is wrong or incomplete (I’m sure it will be for a lot of people). You can message me, tell me in person, or (probably easiest) submit the online form on that web page.
Due to the number of people who will be out of town for Gulf Wars, we have not reserved our usual meeting location for next Wednesday. Instead, Baron Lorenzo will be hosting the meeting at his house. The scheduled activity is dance, but if you just want to come work on projects or socialize, all are welcome. The address is:
Unto the populace of the Barony of South Downs does Lady Raven Helmsplitter, Baronial Chronicler, send greetings!
Are you a writer? an artist? a fighter? Do you have knowledge to share with your Barony? You are invited to share your skills and talent with your Barony by contributing to our NEW quarterly newsletter (working title: The Read Tower)…
I’d like to use this newsletter to focus on the talents of South Downs and use reprinted articles or stock images or clip art sparingly if at all. All work will be properly credited and be accompanied by appropriate Society release forms, which can be found in the Files section on the Facebook Barony of South Downs group, or here: http://kingdom.meridies.org/index.php/offices/chronicler
What sort of content am I looking for?
I’d like to develop a library of artwork and non-event-specific articles to draw from for future issues, and perhaps even form the base for specific theme issues.
Please don’t hesitate to ask questions – I’m looking forward to working with all of you to get this newsletter going! Please send your contributions to me at mawrtyr88@gmail.com
First deadline for contributions: Friday, March 10, 2017 (before everyone leaves for Gulf Wars), for the First Quarter 2017 issue.
Thanks!
Raven
From Mistress Alessandra Fioravanti:
On the 5th Wednesday in November (11/30/16) the Laurels of South Downs will be offering a Practice A&S Faire in conjunction with Garb and Potluck night.
If you have considered entering A&S this is your chance to get feedback in a format similar to entering A&S Faire, but no pressure! Bring your finished or in-progress entries, with documentation, and a panel of Judges will give you feedback on how to improve your entry for an actual A&S Faire. Complete with judging forms to help you get a feel for the process. Conveniently, this is just before Magna Faire!
This is 6 weeks from today, so you have plenty of time to start something if you haven’t begun an entry already.
In addition to practice entering, you can also shadow judge or take a shot at judging an entry yourself! Get a feel for what it’s like to be a judge by giving a critique on a provided finished A&S project.
If you plan on bringing an entry it would be helpful if you could send me a PM.
From Stella di Silvestri:
The meeting this week [ed. note: 12 October] is a group project meeting! Yay!
This month, we’re going to paint pennants with your personal arms (if you have them) or the Baronial arms so that we can proudly display our populace at Castle Wars and future events!
Fabric and paints will be included, and the pennants will be sewn at home.
We are in the small room in the back. If there’s not enough table space, we may move this project to next month.
Alisandre, the camp mistress for South Downs, asks that people planning to camp with South Downs at Red Tower report in on the barony Facebook page.
Mathias, the event steward, has announced the feast menu for Red Tower:
The Opera of Bartolomeo Scappi (1570) Master Cook
Prepared by Grand Chef Mariana Cristina Tirado de Aragon
Course I
Italian Cheeses
Beef Croquettes-vinegar, pepper, salt, fennel, beef, eggs, cinnamon, parsley, garlic
Fruits- pears, grapes, and plums
Bread-flour, salt, butter, rosewater, eggs
Course II
Mushroom Soup-mushrooms, olive oil, onions, pepper, raisins, verjuice, cinnamon, saffron, herbs (parsley, thyme, sage) almonds
Parsnips- parsnips, butter, garlic, walnuts, almonds, parsley, garlic, ginger
Lamb- pork fat, onions, verjuice, common spices (galingale, ginger, cardamom), prunes, cherries
Flaky Pastry-flour, almond milk, sugar, rosewater, salt, olive oil, cinnamon, wine cooked raisins, pine nuts
Course III
Roasted Chicken-chicken, pork fat, orange juice
Broccoli- broccoli, slat, orange juice, pepper, garlic
Herb Tortellini- spinach, butter, herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary), parmesan cheese, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, saffron, raisins, eggs
Apple Crostata-apples, butter, sugar, white wine, cinnamon, provatura cheese, raisins
From His Excellency, Lorenzo, Baron of South Downs:
Red Tower is fast approaching! If there is someone in the Barony who you think should be recognized for their prowess, skill, or labors, you can use our handy award recommendation form to let us know.
Be it known that Brendan de Hay, Rapier Marshal of South Downs, does request that all those desiring to fight for Adela’s Gilded Company at the Tourney of the Foxes notify him of their intent forthwith, that he may gather a correct count of rapier fighters planning to attend.
Our chatelaine is asking for feedback from the Barony for any suggestions or comments that the people have in order to make our great group even better! Please feel free to answer anonymously and please be honest! Also, please suggest solutions that you might have. Our group can only be as great as we make it.
We’ll gather the data and put together some sort of plan that we can all discuss at a future business meeting.
Here’s also a link to the South Downs Award Recommendation page where you can find a link to the award recommendation form. Only the Baron and Baroness can see these submissions:
Thank you!